The fifth season of the ILT20 runs from 22 November to 20 December 2026, the earliest window the league has used. Six franchises will play 34 matches across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, and the final will be in Dubai, as it has been in each of the previous four seasons.
The match-by-match schedule and the squads have not been published yet. This guide covers what is confirmed: the dates, the teams, the format and the reason for the new window. It will be updated as soon as fixtures are released, and the ILT20 hub on CricketDream fills in automatically.
What is confirmed
The six franchises
Desert Vipers, Gulf Giants, MI Emirates and Dubai Capitals have all won the title in the first four seasons, which means the league has had a different winner every year so far.
Why the league moved to November
The ILT20 was played in January and February in its first seasons, moved to December and January for the last one, and has now moved earlier still. The reason given when the window was announced is to avoid overlapping with the many other T20 leagues that run in the new year, including the SA20, which starts in January 2027. For fantasy players, that means the ILT20 finishes before the BBL, the SA20 and the WPL begin.
What to look for once the schedule is out
- Venue split: Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah all have different conditions. Sharjah traditionally helps spin and has a small outfield, while Dubai tends to offer true surfaces for batters.
- Squad news: teams build squads through the auction, so names and roles are confirmed once they publish them.
- International availability: the window overlaps with international series, so some players may arrive late. Always check the confirmed XI.
- Start times: the official fixture list will confirm them, and the hub shows every match in your own timezone.
Until the fixtures are out, the best way to prepare for the ILT20 is to play Cricket Grid, CricketQuest and the Cricket Quiz, and to follow the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and the Pakistan tri-series, which run at the same time.
Play free on CricketDream
Every CricketDream game is free, with no entry fee and no prize pool. Pick 11 players within the credit budget, choose a captain (2x points) and vice-captain (1.5x points), and your score updates live through the match.
Open the ILT20 hub. It updates itself when the fixtures are published.
Open ILT20 hubFrequently asked questions
When is ILT20 2026/27?
The fifth season runs from 22 November to 20 December 2026.
How many teams are in the ILT20?
Six: Desert Vipers, Gulf Giants, MI Emirates, Dubai Capitals, Sharjah Warriorz and Abu Dhabi Knight Riders.
How many matches are played?
34 matches: 30 in the league stage and four in the playoffs.
Is the ILT20 fixture list out?
Not yet. We will add every match to the ILT20 hub as soon as it is published.
Who won the last ILT20?
Desert Vipers are the defending champions.
Is CricketDream fantasy free to play?
Yes. Fantasy XI, Draft, Multi-Draft, Predictor, Cricket Quiz and CricketQuest are all completely free, with no entry fees and no cash prizes.